India supports Nepal's upcoming polls: ex-envoy Upadhyay

Nepal's former ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyay has said New Delhi will extend full support for the upcoming provincial and parliamentary elections in the Himalayan nation.
Upadhyay said the electoral alliance forged between CPN- UML and CPN-Maoist-Centre ahead of the polls would not be a matter of concern for India.
"This alliance seems to be forged for winning upcoming polls, it is not wise to put false accusations on anyone," he said referring to the Leftist alliance.
"India has officially said they would extend their support for the polls," the former ambassador said.
"Currently, Nepal-India relations are smooth, people will judge my performance of two-year stint as a diplomat (in India)," said Upadhyay.

He also said he could contest the upcoming polls from Kapilavastu as his resignation has already been accepted by the council of ministers.

He expressed the view that ruling Nepali Congress party should have contested elections on its own rather than forging electoral alliance with other parties.
"Winning or losing are part and parcel of elections, more importantly, the nation, people and democracy have to win," the former diplomat said.
Upadhyaya had resigned as ambassador to India on October 6.
He was appointed as envoy to India by former prime minister Sushil Koirala's government in April 2015. He was recalled by the subsequent government under CPN-UML's K P Oli in May, 2016, which accused him of working against the country's interest.

He was reappointed last year by Prachanda's government.
Upadhyay had played a key role in reducing tensions between Nepal and India when the Himalayan country had suffered a blockade on its southern border following the promulgation of its new Constitution.